site duration
Laurie,
Now that insulin is purer than 15 years ago (Velosulin is now a human sort
and buffered, or Humalog), sites can last longer. Once years ago I did 10
days and got an infection. Now I last about 4-5 days. I’m a *frugal* person
and stretch what I can. I also do not use a disconnect set - too cheap of
me. Didn’t need it before they invented it, and can do without now. I’m one
of those also who changes the lancet for BGs once or twice a year.
Jan (60 y/o, T-1 11/5/50, pmpg 8/23/83)
February 13th, 2004 at 12:27 pm
alisha changes her site every 1-4 days usually every three sometimes it just
isn’t right or it comes out shortly after inserting it .
we use the iv prep wipe and tegaderm before and after the infusion to keep it
in the longest possible with out it just coming out or getting pulled on (she
is 10) and the adhesive from the infusion set seems to make her get a rash
and she doesn’t from the tegaderm unless the skin got stretched when the
tegaderm was applied and if we just peel a little back it relives it but it
still gets red.
kathy
February 16th, 2004 at 12:24 pm
Hi Kathy—try the Skin prep instead of IV prep and see how Alisha
does…make a broader surface for insertion so that the Tegaderm is in
contact with the skin prep solution while it’s still slightly sticky…I’ve
found it works a bit better that way.
You can reinsert the Rapid as long as aseptic technique is followed…..clean
everything….hands, etc….Joan:)
February 18th, 2004 at 10:30 pm
tonight she had blood backed up in the tubing don’t know how long it had been
that way her before dinner bs was 357 (she was eating an orange and didn’t
test before) and at bedtime was 475 and noticed the blood and the bolus
didn’t budge it
so we changed sites and rebolused her.
it was the first time we used the thighs with the pump as we had so much
trouble with injections there with pain bleeding and bruising every time but
her endo really urged her to use the thighs so we did and i put the (she )
new one in her other thigh. i will keep close eye on it though.
less than an hour later her bs was down to 344 so this site is working. just
hope she didn’t get both of the last two boluses and go too low.
wondering if any one else had this problem?
kathy
February 19th, 2004 at 5:38 pm
I had this happen the other night, but it was in my hip.
The site was very uncomfortable, and my blood sugar was 345.
Gave myself a bolus and it went to 445! Yikes. Changed the
site, and lots of blood came out. Put in a new site, and
couldn’t even feel it. (I love it when that happens!!)
Checked bs later, with a new bolus and things were better.
I didn’t have any blood coming into the set, but probably
would have, had I left it in longer. Luckily, it was too
uncomfortable to go to sleep!!
Tracy
February 21st, 2004 at 11:33 am
ME TOO!!!
fp
<<SNIP>>
Put in a new site, and
> couldn’t even feel it. (I love it when that happens!!)
February 23rd, 2004 at 8:55 am
Yes it does happen Tracey .. a good rule of thumb is if it does not feel
right I just change it anyway. Even if my blood sugar is okay. After I
change my blood sugar usually goes high, so I have to test 2 hours after
then give a small bolus to make sure the set is working properly.
February 24th, 2004 at 3:28 pm
Hi Kathy:
you have to have Alisha watch the areas she’s using for sites. Superficial
veins are quite often visible as those wonderful blue lines…there are
ancillaries as well, so…I’ve found if I leave the pump lower than the
site…like using the upper abdomen and leaving the pump on the beltline, I
can see a backup of blood….If you find it on Alisha, it’s best to just go
ahead and change the set and site like you did. It can happen, she just
needs to be a bit more aware of how she feels if her sugars are high…I get
hot and start yawning a lot….sometimes family can see little cues that the
diabetic isn’t really aware of….change in behavior, irritability, overly
tired, intolerant to changes in temperature…..takes a little bit of
attention, but can prove helpful….Joan:)